Executive Committee Biographies

The members of the NASDCTEc Executive Committee are elected to serve one-year terms, from July 1 through June 30. Only state directors are eligible to serve on the Executive Committee.

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  Dr. Patrick Ainsworth: President

  Dr. Patrick Ainsworth, President of NASDCTEc, serves as Assistant Superintendent of the Secondary, Postsecondary, and Career Education Division. He oversees secondary education, including middle and high school education, college preparation programs, postsecondary relations, adult education, career technical education, and workforce preparation programs.

  Dr. Patrick Ainsworth joined the California Department of Education (CDE) in November 1996. Prior to joining the CDE, Patrick worked for the Riverside County Office of Education, where he served as the Administrator of a countywide consortium consisting of 19 school districts devoted to educating and career training for disadvantaged and at-risk high school aged youth. He also served as Principal-Coordinator, Instructional Specialist, and Counselor while at the county office. Patrick began his career in education as a substitute teacher, transitioned into teaching of severely handicapped youth and adults, and served as a high school counselor for nine years at Lake Elsinore and La Sierra High Schools. He has held the position of Assistant Superintendent since 1996.

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  Marie Barry: Vice President

  Marie Barry, Vice President of NASDCTEc, serves as State Director of the Office of Career and Technical Education at the New Jersey Department of Education as well as liaison to the FFA and Association of Career Technical Education Board of Directors. She is also a member of the department’s cross-divisional team addressing secondary education transformation, and, specifically, provides leadership for the pilot program on the development of personalized student learning plans.

  Since 1999, Marie Barry has served in various capacities at the New Jersey Department of Education. She has coordinated the High Schools That Work Initiative, administered initiatives related to career development and school counseling and coordinates with workforce development entities to promote articulation between education, the business and labor communities and other stakeholders. She has held the position of State Director since 2007.
• Mark Williams: Secretary-Treasurer

  Mark Williams, Secretary-Treasurer of NASDCTEc, serves as Division Administrator, Career Development and Preparation, Illinois State Board of Education, and is a former high school teacher and administrator who has served for six years as Illinois State Director of Career and Technical Education. During his tenure, he has been a founding member of the Coalition for Illinois High Schools, a member of several Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Taskforces devoted to addressing the critical skills shortages of Illinois. Most recently, he has focused on the Illinois Curriculum Revitalization Project as well as the development of STEM Learning Exchanges in Illinois.

  Mark is a native of Illinois and lives with his family in the farm town of Delavan. He holds a B.A. from the University of Chicago and advanced degrees from the Angelicum University. He has taught at the secondary and post-graduate level. Mark’s philosophy of education is that true learning is hard work, fun, and never ceases.

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  Dr. Phil Berkenbile: Past President

  Dr. Phil Berkenbile, Past President of NASDCTEc, serves as State Director of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education as well as Chairman of the Governor’s Taskforce on Healthcare, and is a Board member on the Governor’s Taskforce on Aerospace and Information Security, the Oklahoma Manufacturers Alliance Board, the State Insurance Advisory Council, and the State Workforce Development Board.

  Dr. Berkenbile began his career in Oklahoma as an agricultural education instructor for Morrison Public Schools. He joined the Oklahoma Department of CareerTech in 1988 as the agricultural education northwest district supervisor and curriculum specialist. In 1994 he became the agricultural education assistant state supervisor. Although he left a year later to become the superintendent of schools in Morrison, he returned to the agency in 1999 as the associate state director of educational services. This led to his current position of State Director, which he has held since 2003.